Discussion Questions
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Source: Madison Public Library
1. Two-thirds of the way through In Defense of Food Pollan points out “You would
not have bought this book and read this far into it if your food culture was intact
and healthy.” Are there aspects of your own eating that you want to change? Or
are you reading this book to support your own already-made changes? Some of
both?
2. Pollan himself is an optimist. He believes the possibilities for eating local, organic
food are the best they’ve been in quite some time. Can you play the devil’s
advocate? What makes this style of eating not do-able for so many people?
3. Pollan asserts “We are a people with an unhealthy obsession with healthy
eating.” Agree? Would you call yourself obsessed? Would you call the general
public under-obsessed?
4. Pollan would like to see us spend more money and more time on food: can you
do it? How? Are there other money and time expenditures you’d have to give
up? Will you?
5. Pollans’ example of the Aboriginal experience with diabetes is powerful. Do you
think modern American eating has any parallel?
6. Did you read Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser or see the film Super Size Me?
Both focus on the folks who eat a fast food diet already, and perhaps anticipated
an audience ready to rail upon a fast food diet. Pollan’s approach is much
different. Are there different audiences for each? Will this book be read by fast
food eaters? Was Fast Food Nation? To what degree are all of these works
preaching to the choir? Does it matter?
Madison Public Library
A Member of the South Central Library System
www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/bookclubs/